NDARC Study - Important results you should all read

[ruski]

Last year NDARC (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre) did a survey on how much users know about the law concerning drug trafficking and whether or not a user would still take a pill if they knew it contained PMA.

These are the results verbatim from a summarised study under taken by Associate Professor Louisa Degenhardt from the University of NSW.

This study contains important information about trafficable amounts as well user based survey results.

Incredibly interesting as its direct feedback from the drug user population, ie. you.

The survey was conducted under EDRS.

To quote the EDRS website:

The EDRS (formerly known as the PDI) is a national study funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and coordinated by NDARC to monitor ecstasy and related drugs (ERDs) markets in Australia. ERDs cover a range of drugs including ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, GHB and ketamine.

The EDRS uses a similar methodology to the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Regular ecstasy users are interviewed as they were identified as a group of ERDs users that are able to provide the required information on patterns of ERDs use, the current availability, price and purity of ERDs and perceived drug-related health issues associated with ERDs use. A semi-structured survey of experts in the field of ERDs (e.g. party promoters, treatment providers, law enforcement personnel) is also conducted and indicator data (e.g. purity of drug seizures and overdose rates) is analysed. These data sources are examined together to identify convergent trends in ERDs use and markets.

For more information on who NDARC are is here: http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/ndarc.nsf

Do you know the risks you or your friends are taking?


Some of you may have heard about the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS, formerly the PDI). The EDRS is designed to track emerging trends in drug use and harm, and to provide information back to users and those working with them with the intention of reducing harms related to drug use in Australia.

Each year, we conduct interviews with ecstasy users around Australia. We ask about their knowledge of various issues because we want to make sure people make informed decisions about their drug use. Two findings from the 2006 surveys are outlined below. We think it’s really important that you read these as they contain important information that you might not already know.


1. Do you know the laws about drug trafficking?


This year, we asked ecstasy users what they knew about the laws on drug trafficking ("dealing"). Specifically, we asked people whether they knew how many ecstasy pills people needed to have on them to be charged with drug trafficking.

Two thirds of the people we spoke to did not know - most users overestimated the number of pills that satisfied the law’s limits for drug supply".

This means that some of you or your friends may be taking bigger risks than you think you are taking.

Here’s what else you told us:

• On average, people buy 8 pills at a time.
• On average, people thought that 9 pills or more was the legal limit for drug supply (some people thought it was 100 pills). This is not correct. For details about the laws in your state please consult the web links below; we have also summarised the limits below.
• Most people buy for friends as well as themselves, often because buying in bulk is cheaper.
• Half of the people interviewed thought that the law did not consider holding drugs for mates as "supply". This is not correct. The law considers having drugs for friends as drug supply.
• There is no distinction between a person having ecstasy for their best friends, or if they plan to sell the pills to people unknown to them. If you tell police that you "have drugs for your friends", this can result in immediate police charges of drug trafficking.

With a number of events, dance parties and music festivals coming up, it is really important to make informed choices. Know the risks and know the law.

We have listed the gram amounts in each state for MDMA that can be judged "traffickable" amounts (i.e. drug dealing). We have also listed the websites in case you want more information regarding drug quantities and possession in each state and territory in Australia:


"Traffickable" amounts of MDMA across Australia

NSW: 0.75g or 5 pills

Website: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/dmata1985256/sch1.html

ACT: 0.5g
Website: http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/sl/2005-2/default.asp

Victoria: 3g

Website: http://www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au/Domin...7CFE09A9E84CA2571CB001B7CEE/$FILE/06-052a.pdf

Tasmania: 10g
Website: http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocvie...000;histon=;prompt=;rec=;term=misuse of drugs

South Australia: 0.5g

Website: http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ...CES) REGULATIONS 2000/CURRENT/2000.199.UN.PDF

Western Australia: 4g results in a court trial
Website: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/moda1981184/s42.html

Northern Territory: 0.5g

Website: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/moda184/sch2.html

Queensland: 2g
Website:

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/dmata1985256/sch1.html



2. Do you know what PMA is?


Many of you probably know that "ecstasy" can be made up of a whole range of drugs, and often doesn’t include MDMA (which is what “ecstasy” originally referred to).

Recently in Sydney, a young woman died after consuming an ecstasy capsule. Early toxicology results suggest that it contained PMA. PMA was linked to the deaths of six people in South Australia in 1995-1996 and two last year. These people reportedly took the tablets without knowing they contained PMA.

We asked ecstasy users in 2006 if they would take a pill knowing that it contained PMA.

One quarter said that they would still take the pill if they knew it contained PMA.

PMA (para-methoxyamphetamine) is an amphetamine-type drug with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Some of the effects are similar to MDMA and MDA, but PMA is much more potent and potentially more toxic.

Doses of less than 50 milligrams may produce effects similar to MDMA. Doses of PMA above 50 milligrams may be highly dangerous, especially when combined with other drugs.

At higher doses, users may experience hallucinations, delirium, restlessness, agitation, muscle contractions, thrashing around, rigidity, sweating, high fever, seizures, coma and death.

Given that a tablet can weigh between 150-200 milligrams and can contain up to 50% of active material, it may not take much to produce negative consequences.

• One of the difficulties is knowing how much of any drug is in an ecstasy pill. The more pills you take, the greater the risks.
• PMA can come in many forms. The young woman in Sydney took a capsule, but PMA has also recently been found in tablets.
• One of the early signs of a PMA overdose is overheating. PMA overdose can be treated, but you need to ask for help early.


Be safe during this party season.

Louisa Degenhardt
NDARC, University of NSW
EDRS website: http://notes.med.unsw.edu.au/ndarcweb.nsf/page/EDRS

 

[Splatt]

Whoa. So the ecstasy users of Australia are pretty much morons. Not good news.

 

[tribesman]

Interesting about the law. In WA under the code there it has 2.0g of MDMA as an amount that would assumed to be trafficing and 4.0g that assumes a trial must take place.

 

[Splatt]

I'm pretty sure that when it comes to pills that add the filler and binders and anytihng else to the weight. Just like they would weigh badly cut speed or coke.

 

[Fry-d-]

Interesting the results of the survey and the actual differences in state laws.

Cheers for posting rus

 

[college_dropout]

I'm pretty sure that when it comes to pills that add the filler and binders and anytihng else to the weight. Just like they would weigh badly cut speed or coke.

Do police in Australia count the weight of LSD blotter? I've heard reports that they do but can anyone confirm it. That would be the most retarded shit ever if they did.

 

[Splatt]

They couldn't I think they go by hits only. I've heard between 1-2mg as the amount for supply though

 

[lil angel15]

Thanks for posting that ruski.

It's certainly interesting to see some of those figures.

 

[Tronica]

Great post Ruski. I'm glad results from EDRS are being presenting in this style; a great use of the study NDARC!

It may seem careless to some of us, but on the other hand, these results indicate that most people do know that PMA is something worth avoiding... 3 out of 4 say they would NOT take a pill if pill testing indicated in contained PMA.

Perhaps there is always going to be a group of people who would 'take it anyway'. I believe this question was asked of all participants, regardless of whether they use pill testing or would use it if it were more available. Not everyone knows PMA is dangerous, and even if they know, not everyone makes rational choices about their drug use.

If what people say they would do... is what they actual do... then these results translate to reduced risk of consuming PMA for those people who test their pills or get them tested. More research is needed on what would happen in practice. Pill testing trials anyone?

As for people buying for their friends... wouldn't it be great if these laws made a bit more sense between different states, and actually reflected a more realistic definition of supply. As in, something that is vaguely similar to other drugs. In the meantime, people need to know the risk they are taking...

Does anyone know the average weight of one pill these days (I guess it varies a lot)? It would be good to know about how many pills would equal supply in each state, might help get the message out more effectively.

 

[Splatt]

Between 220 and 290mg Most of the time 240-260.

 

[gumby11]

Whoa. So the ecstasy users of Australia are pretty much morons. Not good news.

Yeah this sucks. I reckon it would have been different 5-10 years ago. Now its so mainstream theres a lot of morons doing pills.

 

[Tronica]

Between 220 and 290mg Most of the time 240-260.

Let's say a pill weighs 250 to 300 mg (to be on safe side)

NSW: 0.75g or 5 pills

3 pills could weigh more than 0.75g, and thus would attract a trafficking charge. Although we'd have to look into it more, I'd say this rule would be applied so that if you have more than 0.75g OR 5 or more pills, traffickable charges could be applied. 4 pills would have to weigh less than average to fall under 0.75g.

ACT: 0.5g

Wow, 2 pills would easily be enough to weigh 0.5g!

Victoria: 3g

This is 10 pills at 300mg each.

Tasmania: 10g

This is 33 pills at 300 mg each!

South Australia: 0.5g

Same as ACT, only 1 pill could be carried without attracting a trafficking charge.

Western Australia: 2g (according to Tribesman?) to 4g

2g = 8 250mg pills or 6.67 300mg pills. It looks like carrying a 5-pack would not attract trafficking charges in WA.

Northern Territory: 0.5g

Same as ACT, only 1 pill could be carried without attracting a trafficking charge.

Queensland: 2g

Same as WA, 5 pills could be carried without attracting a trafficking charge.


*disclaimer* of course you still risk possession/use charges carrying any amounts. Hopefully these numbers of pills will be a sobering reminding of how little drugs people have to have on them to potentially deal with a trafficking offence - which is much more serious than possession/use!

Be aware of your state/territory's rules for your own protection